Saudi Arabia Advances In World Bank SPI 2024, Tops Arab Region And Climbs In G20 Ranking

Saudi Arabia, through the General Authority for Statistics, has raised its Statistical Performance Indicator score again. The World Bank measure shows the Kingdom reaching 83.3% in 2024, up from 81.5% in 2023. Saudi Arabia keeps first place among Arab countries. Within the G20, the Kingdom climbs from fourteenth to eleventh. Globally, Saudi Arabia now places fifty‑first among 188 states.

The Statistical Performance Indicator, issued by the World Bank since the 2020 update, tracks national data systems. The 2024 assessment covers five pillars and 51 detailed indicators. These pillars examine data use, services, products, sources, and infrastructure. Results for every country appear on the World Bank website, allowing comparisons and highlighting areas needing further improvement.

Saudi Arabia records strong results in pillars covering data services, data sources, and data infrastructure. The Kingdom ranks within the top 20% of countries for each of these pillars. In data services, Saudi Arabia places sixth among G20 members, with a score of 93.2%. For data sources, Saudi Arabia stands seventh within the G20 and seventeenth worldwide. This global ranking improves from thirty‑sixth reported in the previous year’s release.

The overall SPI advancement reflects broad statistical development within the Kingdom’s national data ecosystem. GASTAT has adopted a digital transformation approach, using modern tools across production and dissemination stages. These efforts support better transparency and help users access reliable official figures. They also strengthen monitoring of progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals, using consistent indicators agreed at the international level.

GASTAT is carrying out a comprehensive statistical transformation programme that reshapes how information is collected and processed. The authority works on strengthening infrastructure for both field surveys and digital surveys. Integration with governmental, private, and non‑profit entities is expanding. This integration increases access to administrative data sources and reduces duplication. It also shortens production times for key economic and social indicators.

Advanced technologies are being applied in data collection, processing, and analysis to support this transformation. GASTAT uses these tools to enhance the accuracy and timeliness of statistical outputs. Better quality figures give decision‑makers clearer evidence when designing policies. They also support tracking of Saudi Vision 2030 targets, especially those related to economic diversification and social development, using harmonised and comparable datasets.

Alongside digital investments, GASTAT continues to build national capabilities within the statistical sector. Training programmes and specialised workshops aim to improve skills in modern methodologies. The authority adopts leading global practices in sample design, data quality management, and disclosure control. These steps help ensure that statistical development remains sustainable and aligned with fast global changes in the field of statistics.

Saudi Arabia Statistical Performance Indicator achievement and GASTAT leadership support

GASTAT President Fahad Al-Dossari has linked the recent SPI gains to institutional backing from the state leadership. Fahad Al-Dossari extended congratulations to the wise leadership on this international achievement and expressed appreciation for the support and attention GASTAT continues to receive. Fahad Al-Dossari noted that this support improves the quality and efficiency of statistical operations and outputs, and keeps the Saudi statistical ecosystem aligned with global developments.

The higher Statistical Performance Indicator ranking strengthens Saudi Arabia’s international statistical standing and confirms progress in building a modern data system. The results indicate that reforms in infrastructure, methods, and human capital are producing measurable outcomes. Continued work by GASTAT on integration, innovation, and capacity-building is expected to maintain reliable information for policymakers and support ongoing national plans, including Saudi Vision 2030.

With inputs from SPA